She composes spaces like others compose perfumes, with instinct, memory, and audacity. At just forty years old, Laura Gonzalez has established herself as one of the most sought-after names in contemporary interior design. Her style? A joyful baroque, masterfully controlled eclecticism, and elegance based on a mix of eras and materials. Restaurants, hotels, boutiques, private apartments… every project by Laura Gonzalez is a stage set where a unique story unfolds. Portrait of a designer who shapes spaces like universes.
An early calling, a dazzling career
Born in Paris in 1983, Laura Gonzalez grew up in an environment where discipline and aesthetics coexisted harmoniously, thanks in particular to her education at the Légion d’Honneur boarding school (in Saint Denis).
She grew up in the south, near Cannes, surrounded by bright light, Mediterranean colors, the ever-present sea, and local crafts, all of which shaped her outlook and sense of aesthetics from an early age.
Although she considered an academic career for a while, a sudden realization led her to architecture: “I was washing my hands, and I knew that was it,” she says with humor.
She enrolled at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris-Malaquais.
After graduating with a DPLG architecture degree (as it was known at the time), she soon struck out on her own. At just 21, she founded her own agency, Pravda Arkitect. Her very first project? A friend’s shop, for which she was paid in an iPod and Bose speakers. The tone was set: enthusiasm, resourcefulness, and above all, a tenacious passion.
The Bus Palladium: the revelation
Word of mouth quickly led her to more substantial projects. In 2010, at just 26 years old, she was commissioned to renovate the legendary Bus Palladium in Paris. With a tight budget and extremely short deadlines, she sometimes slept on site to supervise the work carried out by teams working day and night. The project was a baptism of fire, but above all a springboard. With her vintage furniture, striking wallpaper, and narrative staging, she established a style that the press quickly described as “eclectic chic” , a vibrant, elegant, and timeless “mix & match.”
A signature style: masterful boldness and craftsmanship at the heart of her vision
It’s hard to pigeonhole Laura Gonzalez. Her trademark? A combination of contrasts: Art Deco inspirations, exuberant patterns, panther velvet, lush frescoes, toile de Jouy, and vibrant terrazzo, like the one she chose at the last minute for Brasserie Auteuil. Each project is conceived as a story to be told.
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Featured Photo: © Stéphan Julliard
